Tractor-chain.



W. B. M-ACAULAY.

TRACTOR CHAIN.

APPLICATION mzo AUG. 10. 1914.

1,170,836. Patented Feb. 8, I916.

Alum w! W WITNESSES INVE1\'TOR.

W b. MUC/W/LHY 7) BY M M qQuJ L V A; ATTORNEYS "Chains,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER B. MACAULAY, 0E MARYSVILLE, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE YUBA CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA.

rmcronrcn'am.

lpeemcatlon of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 8,1916.

Anollcationnled August 10, 1914. Serial No. asaoea resident of Marysville, Yuba county, State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tractorof which the following is a spec i tication.-

The invention relates to tread cha 1ns of track-laying tractors. 1

The object ofthe inventionfis ,to provide an improved form of tractor chain.

Another object of the invention is to proide a tractor chain of such construction that the shear on the bolt holding the tread plate to the chain link is reduced.

The invention possesses other advanta ,veous features, some of which, with the l'm'egoing, will be set forth at length in the 'l'ollowing description where I shall outline in full that form of the invention which I have selected for illustration in the drawings accompanying and "fonning part' of the present specification. I

In the drawings I have shown only. one

specific form of my invention, but it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to such form. It is also understood that by the claims succeeding the description; of my invention, I desire to'cover the invention in whatever formit may be embodied.

Referring to said drawings: Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of two links of the tractor chain, showing the tread plates at tached. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of two connected links of the tractor chain.

The chain of my invention consists of a plurality of links 2 hinged together by pivot pins 3. Each link is formed of two legs 4,

which converge toward opeendof the link,

so he'link is widen-atone end than at the 0 her. At the narrow end the legs are joined bytthe hollow cyl indrical sleeve 5, andat the wide end, the legs are pro vided with hollow bosses 6. The narrow end of one link fits between the bosses on the adjacent link and the hinge pin is disposed in the bosses and sleeve.

Arranged on each leg 4 of the link and preferably about midway between the ends,

is a hollow upwardly projecting lug or boss 7, which extends from the bottom of the leg to a plane above the upper face of the link, and which is preferably arranged at right angles to the hinge pin. The lower surface of the leg is provided with a depression at the base of the upwardly 'proecting boss.

' The tread preferably comprises a base plate 8 which lies against the upper S111} face of the link and which is provided with apertures through which the bosses-7 extend. The base plate is preferably curved upward at one end so that it overlies the .edge of the adjacent base plate, partly closing the joint between the two.

The tread plate 9 is curved or bent transversely so thatit presents a rounded transverse rib to the ground surface and the bosses 7 extend up into and support the rib. The tread plate is preferably'formed with depressions in its upper surface in which .the heads of the bolts 12 are disposed and the lower faces of these depressiongg, bear against the upper ends of the bosses 7E The bolt 12 passes through the. tread plate and boss 7 and is held secure by' the nut 13. The upper edges of the bosses are preferably beveled so that the bosses fit snugly into the bent treadplate. The bosses 7 not only support the curved tread plate, but'they carry substantially all of the shearing strain produced, and thereby relieve the bolts. of

the shearing strain. This arrangement produces a very sturdy tread which withstands all of the great strains which are placed on the tread and produces a 'tread which obtains a gripping hold on the surface over which the tractor travels. 'f;

Iclaim:

1. In a tractontread chain, a link, a hollow boss thereon projecting above the surface of the link, a curved tread plate and a bplt extending through said boss and tread p ate. 4

2. In a tractor tread chain, a link having two legs and an integral hollow upstanding boss on each leg projecting above the surface of the link, said boss being arranged midway between the ends of the link.

. 3. In a tractor tread ehziin, a link having my hand at Marysville, California, this 305%; two legs, ahqlloivboss ones/ch leg project day 01 July, 1914.

.ing above the surface f the link, a, euz'ved 7 WALTER B MACAULAV I tread plate resting against said'bosses, and bolts extending" through "said plate and In presence of.

bosses. I t P. R. PARKER, In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set W: H. CARLIN 

